A visiting Chinese official said in Liberia's capital Monrovia on Monday that it is of great importance for the two countries to resume diplomatic relations.  

The decision to resume diplomatic ties not only shows the far-sightedness of the Liberian leaders, but has laid the political foundation for future bilateral cooperation, Lu Guozeng, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs, said during his meeting with head of Liberia's interim government, Gyude Bryant.

Lu, who arrived in Monrovia on Sunday, told Bryant that China is prepared to conduct cooperation in various areas with Liberia to support its post-civil war economic reconstruction.

Lu expressed confidence in the broad prospects of cooperation between the two countries.

Bryant said at the meeting that his country attaches importance to developing relations with China and will strictly abide by its pledges made last month when the two sides resumed full diplomatic ties.

He thanked China for its efforts in recent years at the United Nations to solve the Liberia issue, and expressed the hope to carry out sincere and substantive cooperation with China.

China and Liberia signed a communique last month to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)